I've been reading about protein shakes, it's benefits and side effects. However i've used it many times as my post workout recovery drink.

I have no doubt in the benefits i get in my protein shake, i gained mass ( i was a skinny guy back then) , and i'm not talking about fat mass, i gained muscle, Now i've read that protein shakes actually damage the kidneys and the liver since the body cannot synthesize the protein very well.

But other articles suggest that protein only damages more those persons who have already pre-damaged their kidneys, in other words it only worsens it , but does not cause the damage itself.

Because of conflicts in what i should believe in. I'd like to ask from you, who have experienced drinking protein shakes, probably long term or short term. How true are these side effects? And can you mention how long have you been taking protein shakes?and your experiences on this. Thanks!

Question: are we talking about healthy people, or people with renal problems because the answers are completely different.
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Berin LoritschOct 31 '13 at 12:30

@Berin, very true. However, apparently healthy people may have early kidney dysfunction without knowing it. Accd'g to the NIH, "kidney disease often has no symptoms until it is very advanced." Certain populations are at higher risk for kidney disease (HBP, family history, diabetes, age etc.). So the better question may be, are we talking about healthy people, or people at risk for renal problems?
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BackInShapeBuddyOct 31 '13 at 22:41

healthy people of course! and @Baarn , this might be a nutrition question, however, i figured i'd find body builders here who have used protein shakes, and thought i'd find more sensible answers here.
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muffinNov 4 '13 at 2:04

5 Answers
5

"In the 1990s when the Atkins diet reached huge popularity, critics claimed that high
protein intake leads to kidney stones. This turned out to be a complete myth, but the
misinformation is still being circulated.
Although protein restricted diets are helpful for people who already have kidney
disease, eating meat does not cause kidney problems[7]. Furthermore, the fat-soluble
vitamins and saturated fat found in animal foods are pivotal for the proper functioning
of your kidneys."

"The claim that protein intake leads to kidney stones is another popular myth that is
not supported by the facts. Although protein restricted diets are helpful for people
who have kidney disease, eating meat does not cause kidney problems (10). Furthermore,
the fat-soluble vitamins and saturated fatty acids found in animal foods are pivotal
for properly functioning kidneys."

I have concluded that while consuming a large amount of protein daily -

Not drinking enough water can cause kidney stones

Genetic deffects can make stones more likely

Not eating healthy, not getting enough fiber

Some research suggested that: Large amounts of protein while cutting out carbs may increase risk of kidney problems. (Again, the previous points may prevent this)

My Personal opinion - I think that if you maintain a healthy diet and drink PLENTY of water you shouldn't have any problems. I'm at about 300 grams of protein a day which includes 12oz of chicken, salmon, peanuts, 2 whey protein shakes, a mass gainer shake (50g of protein) and a casein shake. I have been on this diet for 3 months now and haven't had any issues.

@muffin, the responses from Dan Andrews and backinshapebuddy are the most important things to continue.

From personal experience, the signs of kidney damage really are that subtle that you'll think you are healthy until your kidneys have finally had enough. Also, the foods you eat most likely have more than adequate protein. I was active, ate relatively well, and was pretty fit. However, lack of portion control and too many protein shacks overworked my kidneys causing the damage you're talking about. This was between high school and college, so it was really unexpected.

The problem is mainly consuming too much protein which is very easy to do. Most foods naturally contain more protein than you'd expect per serving. If you live in the US or similar countries, the portions you're used to eating can be multiple servings. The same goes for drinks. Most serving sizes are an 8 ounce cup, but most glasses hold much more than 8 oz. So, you might be getting even more protein through shakes, milk, etc than you think.

Typically, it's recommended that bodybuilders get ~1 to 1.5 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. Again, that's kilogram not pound. So, for a 160 pound person that would be about 73 to 109.5 grams. Depending on your level of activity, you'll probably only need that 73 which is really easy to get.

I'd suggest limiting the shakes to days when you actually lift. And even then, just one shake tops. And of course, see a doctor if it really worries that much. A general practitioner could probably order you blood work and refer you to a nephrologist if there actually is a problem.

*Edited: you can have kidney damage without ever getting a kidney stone!!! I have never had a kidney stone in my life, yet my kidney function is extremely impaired. I'm not so bad that I have to be on dialysis, but I have to closely monitor my diet to prevent it from getting worse. it won't get much better, but if I monitor my diet(which sucks) I can avoid dialysis and kidney transplantation(which would suck worse)

Tl;dr: It's very easy for bodybuilders to ingest too much protein. Lots of steaks, chicken breasts, plus protein can be overkill if you don't monitor your portions. See a doctor if it really concerns you.

I've been using protein shakes for a few years, not daily but perhaps 3 times a week after heavy weight training (as opposed to after cardio, for example).
I was told by a personal trainer many years back that people do damage their kidneys because they use excessive amounts. He said it's usually those entering competitions that have the mindset of "if HE is taking one scoop, I'll take TWO and get bigger faster". Your kidneys can't cope with excessive amounts.

My experience of a few years has, as I said, been to use it a few times a week after heavy weight work and always the amount recommended on the box.

We should eat our protein and not drink it. I'll keep my money away from the supplement mafia. I'm speaking as someone who used to drink 2 N-Large2 shakes a day - in my younger days - for about 3 years straight.
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Dan AndrewsJan 17 '14 at 16:17

I am a doctor, I have studied different causes of renal failure but supplement proteins were not amongs them I have used different protein supplement for the past couple of years and I am not concerned abou it. But if sombdy who already have a kidney problem should avoid it bcs it may aggravate their problem. Keep drinking keep drinking keep drinking plenty of water alongside your protein.

It's hard to take you seriously when your answer has 8 typos in 4 lines, doctor. You might want to revisit that. Other than that, I totally agree.
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LarissaGodzillaApr 19 '14 at 12:06

@LarissaGodzilla - Tell you what, try typing your comment in Hindi or whatever language this person considers native and see how many typos you come up with.
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JohnPApr 20 '14 at 16:40

@JohnP: I'm not one to call out the occassional typo, we all make mistakes. But come on, eight typos in four lines? 'bcs', missing the full stop between sentences? That person didn't read this text once before sending it. That's what I'm calling out, not the typo.
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LarissaGodzillaApr 20 '14 at 17:19

But that's what you would expect from a typical overworked doctor.
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Count IblisJun 24 at 14:56